Kansas City News Lights: Skyspace, Top Cop, Fighting & Leadership

For our most dedicated readers, we share this overnight collection of pop culture, community news and top headlines arranged for your convenience and entangled with our patented snark.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Intelligent Design Ahead . . . 

Kansas City Museum partners with world renowned architect to create the city's first 'skyspace'

A new way to look up at the sky is coming to Kansas City. It's called a skyspace and coming to the Kansas City Museum ahead of the 2026 World Cup. It's part art sculpture and part planetarium. The museum's executive director believes it could become iconic for the next generation in KC.

Top Cop Conversation Tonight

Kansas City's new police chief talks priorities

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - On Monday evening, community members got a chance to hear from the KCPD's new police chief. "My top priority is building bridges," said Chief Stacey Graves. Graves spoke before a standing-room-only crowd at South Patrol as she laid out her plans for the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department.

EXCEPTIONAL Reporting & Local Inspiration

Tireless 'Ms. Jessie' Cultivates Next Generation of Neighborhood Leaders

"You just start doing stuff," Jessie Jefferson said. And you answer to this persistent calling to solve neighbors' problems because "you can't say no." Just like that, Jefferson has become the resource for an expansive portfolio of east Kansas City neighborhoods whenever there are blocks to clean, drug houses to rout out, grants to be written, city officials to be called - any cause in need of a champion.

Golden Ghetto Gets Fancier

Overland Park City Council approves proposal to build boutique hotel in former church building

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Overland Park City Council approved a proposal Monday night to turn a former church building into a boutique hotel. The hotel will be built at 8029 Overland Park Drive and is expected to have 30 rooms, according to a city document.

Swinging In The Burbs

Lee's Summit golf course could see $268M mixed-use development

A local partnership looks to work with Lee's Summit Parks and Recreation to remake a city golf course with a $268.2 million blend of private mixed uses and public sports facilities.

See-Through Hottie Debuts

Rita Ora steps out in completely sheer lace dress

Rita Ora never met a "naked" dress she didn't like. The "Your Song" singer attended Netflix's Golden Globes and Critics Choice Nominee party in Los Angeles on Sunday, clad in a totally sheer lace Rodarte number with nothing but a pair of black panties underneath.

Prez Dox Debated

House Oversight chairman says discovered Biden classified docs displays 'two-tier' justice system

Rep. Jim Comer, R-Ky., chairman of the House Oversight Committee told reporters Monday night that the handling of the discovery of classified documents by President Biden's lawyers that were taken from the White House six years ago is a display of a "two-tier" system of justice.

Revolting Excuses From Talker

Bannon rationalizes the Brazil riots as others seek to distance them from Trump

"Look at the report, the code, the tabulator, the machines and open them up ... be transparent, let the citizens of Brazil see," Bannon said on his "War Room" podcast. Bannon's support of the protesters, whom he called "freedom fighters," has prompted renewed criticism of both him and the larger MAGA movement that has spread election denialism at home and abroad.

GOP Challengers Emerge

New House speaker McCarthy faces threat of moderate revolt over rules

Kevin McCarthy, the newly elected Republican House speaker, was facing a rocky first full day in charge of the House of Representatives on Monday with the fresh threat of a challenge to his hard-won authority - this time from moderate party members, not the hard-right fringe.

Tragic Life Lesson Aftermath

Abby Zwerner: Six-year-old who shot his teacher used mother's gun

Abby Zwerner, who was shot in Virginia on Friday, is now able to talk to family and friends.

Planet Earth Healing

The ozone layer is on track to recover within decades as harmful chemicals are phased out, scientists report | CNN

In rare good news for the planet, Earth's ozone layer is on track to recover completely within decades, as ozone-depleting chemicals are phased out across the world, according to a new United Nations-backed assessment. The ozone layer protects the planet from harmful ultraviolet rays.

Talker Claims Persecution

'We Were Censored' By White House For Pointing Out 'Huge Problems' With COVID Vaccines, Tucker Carlson Says

Fox News host Tucker Carlson spoke out Monday about a 2021 email from a White House official demanding Facebook censor him for pointing out "huge problems" with COVID vaccines. "It was never really a secret there were huge problems with the COVID shots.

Diamond Forever . . . 

BREAKING: Pro-Trump Influencer Diamond Of 'Diamond And Silk' Dies At 51

Pro-Trump influencer Ineitha Lynnette Hardaway, better known as "Diamond" in "Diamond and Silk," has passed away, according to a statement from the former president. She was 51 years old. "Really bad news for Republicans and frankly, ALL Americans," Trump said in a post on social media.

EPIC Wartime Operation

Ukraine says a team of military surgeons removed an unexploded grenade from inside the body of a Ukrainian soldier

A Ukrainian surgeon successfully removed a live grenade from inside a soldier's chest. The Armed Forces of Ukraine tweeted that the grenade could have detonated "at any moment." The surgery went well and the wounded soldier has been sent to recovery, Ukraine's military said.

Escalation Via Equipment

Pentagon weighs sending Stryker combat vehicles to Ukraine

The people stressed that no final decision has been made, and the administration could decide to send the Strykers in a future package instead. "We have no announcements to make at this time," said Pentagon spokesperson Lt. Col. Garron Garn. A spokesperson for the National Security Council did not comment by press time.

Far East Threats In Doubt?!?

War game suggests Chinese invasion of Taiwan would fail at a huge cost to US, Chinese and Taiwanese militaries | CNN Politics

A Chinese invasion of Taiwan in 2026 would result in thousands of casualties among Chinese, United States, Taiwanese and Japanese forces, and it would be unlikely to result in a victory for Beijing, according to a prominent independent Washington think tank, which conducted war game simulations of a possible conflict that is preoccupying military and political leaders in Asia and Washington.

Mexican Cartel War Overview

Mexico says 3,586 soldiers involved in operation to capture El Chapo's son Ovidio Guzman

Mexico has revealed that 3,586 soldiers were used in the operation last week surrounding the capture of Ovidio Guzman, the son of jailed drug cartel kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzmán. The detention of Guzman in the Sinaloa state on Thursday resulted in violent clashes with cartel members in its aftermath, leaving 10 Mexican soldiers and 19 cartel gunmen dead, the Mexican government says.

Cooking Tech Crackdown?!?

A US federal agency is considering a ban on gas stoves, report says | CNN Business

A federal agency is considering a ban on gas stoves as concerns about indoor pollution linked to childhood asthma rise, Bloomberg reported. A US Consumer Product Safety commissioner told Bloomberg gas stove usage is a "hidden hazard." "Any option is on the table. Products that can't be made safe can be banned," agency commissioner Richard Trumka Jr.

PO-PO IN ACTION!!!

Tennessee cops, including married female officer, fired after repeated wild sex romps

A small Tennessee police station has been rocked by allegations of wild sexual misconduct, after a married female officer allegedly had steamy romps with six male officers, including illicit on-duty liaisons, according to reports.

Local Sounds For EPIC Cause

The Band That Fell To Earth's seventh annual Bowie tribute shows will benefit KC Common Good

For the seventh year, The Band That Fell To Earth will present a multisensory production honoring the life and music of David Bowie. Bowie fans can catch the production at recordBar Jan. 19-21. Each year, the band chooses a different local nonprofit organization to donate a portion of the event's ticket sales to.

Chiefs Fans Love Their Carbs

Bakery shop shifts production after Chiefs fans' buying patterns change

OVERLAND PARK, Kan - The Kansas City Chiefs are back in the postseason and one bakery owner says Chiefs fans' buying habits have shifted this year. "We saw probably half the amount of party activity last year for the AFC Championship game than we did the year before," explained Robert Duensing, owner of Best Regards Bakery & Cafe in Overland Park, Kansas.

QB Already Considers Legacy

Patrick Mahomes reflects on what MVP, Lombardi mean to him at this stage in his career

The last time Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes won the Super Bowl and the NFL MVP, his life was completely different. He was the hot young gunslinger who had just broken on the scene. It was surreal to watch.

Late Night BBQ Snack . . . 

Best barbecue in Kansas, Missouri, according to Food Network

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City clearly knows a thing or two about barbecue. The best barbecue restaurants in Kansas and Missouri can both be found in the Kansas City area, according to a new report. Food Network's "50 States of Barbecue" list features not one but two local barbecue spots.

Winter Respite Cont'd

FORECAST: Warm temperatures to continue for a few days

Warm temperatures are the main story for the beginning of this week. Highs made it to the 50s on Monday and will do so for the next few days! Temperatures Monday night will drop to the lower 30s under a mostly clear sky. Sunshine starts our Tuesday, with a few extra clouds passing through during the day.

And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.